Employment Labor and Anti-Discrimination Law Essay

You are an employee at a nice paper mill and want to impress the boss by burning the midnight oil (cut not too close to the wood pulp). For four consecutive weeks, you work forty-five, forty-two, thirty-nine, and thirty-one hours. If you are a nonexempt employee covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, how many hours of overtime pay, if any, would you be entitled to? What would be the rate? Fair Labor Standards Act Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 is concerned with child labor, maximum hours, minimum wages, and overtime provisions. Overtime An employee who works more than forty hours over week must be paid 1.5 times his or her regular pay rate for all hours over forty. Employers whose jobs are categorized as executive, administration, or professional, as well as outside salespersons and computer employees, are exempt. Employees who are not exempt include manual laborers and other blue-collar workers who perform tasks involving repetitive operation with their hands (non-management production line employees, for example). Other non-exempt employees include police officers, firefighters, licensed nurses and other public safety workers. Employers can pay overtime to exempt employers if they want to, but they cannot otherwise waive or reduce the overtime requirements. The employee will be paid overtime for the weeks he or she worked the forty-five, forty-two, but not the thirty-nine or the thirty-one hour week.

Food Of A Food Desert - 1745 Words

Pedro Barrera Geography Matthew Piscelli November 19, 2014 Food Deserts One huge problem that the United States faces today are the large numbers of food deserts. A food desert, according to the United States department of Agriculture, is a neighborhood that has a difficult time getting quality and affordable food to their home. This means that people are not properly being fed and getting the nutrition needed for a healthy diet. The good quality food that is needed to maintain this balance is not near or affordable for the people living in these areas. Food deserts affect many people across the United States, especially those that are on the lower end of the social economic spectrum and live in rural areas. Many of these low-income families do not have the means to get to the supermarket and get the right products they need so they settle for lower quality but more cost efficient foods. A great example for a food desert would be the great city of Chicago who is ranked in the top two worst food deserts in the United State according to newson e.com. Food deserts primarily affect those who live in the rural areas and lower income neighborhoods. As stated by Daniel Block, there are social economic and demographic factors such as a low-income families, single parents and a low education level (Daniel Block 2005 page 1). Therefore the problem of a food deserts affect those with a low education level, single parent households and those with a low income. The lack ofShow MoreRelatedThe Food Of A Food Desert Essay1632 Words   |  7 Pagesthe deadliest places when left stranded without proper supplies are deserts. The most popular ones are the Sahara, Arabian, Mojave, and Food. Food? Yes, as much as people say that’s nonsense, a food desert is an occurring anomaly that impacts many people around the world, and in the United States. A food desert is a place where people do not have access to natural healthy food, however they do have access to cheap unhealthy food. Those areas today tend to be densely populated urban co mmunities thatRead MoreFood Deserts2346 Words   |  10 Pages Food Deserts There is growing trend of cities across the United States that do not have access to food such as places in Buffalo, Baltimore, or Detroit. According to the USDA, a food desert is to qualify as a â€Å"low-access community,† at least 500 people and/or at least 33 percent of the census tract s population must reside more than one mile from a supermarket or large grocery store (for rural census tracts, the distance is more than 10 miles). You can even look up a food desert locaterRead MoreFood Deserts And Its Effects On Unhealthy Food871 Words   |  4 PagesFood deserts are defined as areas of relatively poor access to healthy and affordable food. This phenomenon is thought to contribute to social disparities in diet and diet-related health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease and obesity (Beaulac, Kristjansson, Cummins, 2009). The term â€Å"food desert† reportedly originated in Scotland in the early 1990s to describe poor access to an affordable and healthy diet (Beaulac, Kristjansson, Cummins, 2009). Although food deserts can mean a literal absenceRead MoreObesity and Food Deserts1293 Words   |  5 PagesThe issues of obesity and food deserts are important, and many people have questions about these topics. What makes this important though? To dig even deeper, what are the significant factors of both topics? The answer to the most pressing subject of modern times will now be determined. Why is the topic really that important? Essentially, who is it important to? A person has traditionally been considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight. Also, the recent peakRead MoreFood Deserts in Chicago1741 Words   |  7 Pagesto produce healthy foods. The increasing amount of food deserts and lack of family income contributes to African-American obesity rates, and lack of healthy choices. Ironically, these food desserts reside in communities plagued by poverty. These income restrictions also add to the problems that are part of being in a food desert. Literature Review Mari Gallagher(2006). Examining the Impact of Food Deserts on Public Health in Chicago Food deserts are places where healthy foods are not produced norRead MoreFood Deserts Essay865 Words   |  4 PagesFood deserts are one of the main causes of obesity in lower income areas, and while initiatives are being created to solve this problem, more than just a few initiatives are needed to change the obesity issue. Over 60 million people are obese in the world today. The socioeconomic statuses of the Americans play a major part in the obesity rates across the country. People with higher incomes are less likely to be obese than people with lower incomes. One in every seven preschool-aged childrenRead MoreFood Deserts Essay1839 Words   |  8 Pagesthousands of Chicagoans live in what’s known as a food desert. A food desert is in an area of focus that is short on access to fresh meat and produce. These areas are usually over populated with packaged and processed foods, which are not always healthy. They also have a significant amount junk that you can easily find in convenience stores and fast food restaurants. What exactly qualifies a neighborhood to be part of a food desert? Food deserts usually have a bunch of blocks without a corner groceryRead MoreThe Social Determinants Of Food Deserts And Food Insecurity Essay1680 Words   |  7 PagesThe Social Determinants of Food Deserts and Food Insecurity Diverse groups in American society are often the most marginalized and therefore the most vulnerable to issues that undermine the fair and uncomplicated pursuit of health and wellbeing. One of those issues is the lack of access to affordable healthy food and, in many cases, the inaccessibility to food in general. Areas where affordable and healthy foods are largely unavailable are called food deserts and the members of the diverse groupsRead MorePersuasive Essay On Food Deserts774 Words   |  4 Pagesgeneration calls â€Å"breakfast† instead of â€Å"snacks†. Even if they are having a snack, people here would probably choose chocolate instead of fruit. Why? Because there are food deserts EVERYWHERE in America. Specifically, in Georgia, nearly two million people live in one. And to be more specific, the metro Atlanta area has more food deserts than any other city in Georgia. But the excuse that they have for eating what they eat is plain out a terrible excuse: â€Å"t hey can not help the fact that they are notRead MoreEconomic Factors Of Food Deserts1936 Words   |  8 Pagesthe economic factors of food deserts in America. Determining aspects of food store locations, supply and demand, food pricing, income, and consumer preferences are discussed as some of the economic causes of food deserts. Ten articles are used to support this paper with unique standpoints on this topic. Subjects that these articles examine are consumer demand, healthful food pricing, business opportunity costs, effects of low income, heterogeneity and homogeneity of food choices, and the effects

What Does À La Une Mean in French

The French expression  Ãƒ   la une  means on the front page. Its a common way to talk about the days top news headlines or the stories that make up the news in general. The words within the phrase can also be used to refer to a variety of different things. This lesson will walk you through all of it and quickly add some new expressions to your French vocabulary. The Meaning of  Ãƒâ‚¬ la une À la une is pronounced ah lah oon. Its literal translation is on the one, though it refers specifically to news coverage. La une refers to the front page of a newspaper, so the French expression à   la une means on the front page or even just in the news.  It can also become part of more definitive phrases: Un article à   la une - lead storyà ªtre à   la une (des journaux)  - to hit the papers, make the newsÀ la une aujourdhui -  Todays headlines Note that la une does not contract to lune in this expression. Part of casual conversation, the expression falls into the informal register of the French language.   Related French Expressions When you break down  Ãƒ   la une, its parts can be used to refer to other things in French. Here are the most common examples, each of which is also in the informal register. La une can also refer to table one in a restaurant.la Une used to mean channel one on television (now its called TF1).À la une, à   la deux, à   la trois! means And a one, and a two, and a three!

Is Oedipus Rex a Story of Tragedy or Fate Essay - 1272 Words

Oedipus Rex a play by Sophocles can be looked at in two ways as or as not a tragedy of fate. Author Lionel Trilling states that much ingenuity has been used to show that it is not a tragedy of fate and those critics use Poetics by Aristotle to back their claim, â€Å"the protagonist of a tragedy should be a man worthy of respect and admiration but have some discernible weakness or fault of character to which his tragic disaster may be attributed. In some important sense, that is, he is to be thought responsible for what befalls him† (Trilling 5). Although this description would seem to be accurate of Oedipus who Trilling sees as being admirable, wise, and courageous with the flaw of his pride, Trilling ultimately says that the tragic†¦show more content†¦Ultimately, Oedipus finds out about the heinous deed he has done, despite he has only killed a man he feels responsible for fulfilling the prophecy. Oedipus only acts on his emotions, had any other man been there i t would not have been a tragedy since another man would only be killing a king. Even though pride had led him to his decision in killing a man, it was by fate that Oedipus should meet his father on that crossroad. A new topic arises as to if Oedipus is really responsible for what he has done because the tragedy is actually one of fate. The question of is intent needed for culpability has been explored since 300 BCE by philosophers. The story of Oedipus embodies this question at the heart of its plot and Trilling argues in his Preface to the Experience of Literature that Oedipus is not responsible for fulfilling the prophecies. Oedipus meets a group of pilgrims on the road, and he slaughters them, when they do not move out of his way because of his pride. Oedipus at that point does not know that one of the pilgrims happens to be his father. Trilling uses Ethics by Aristotle to exculpate Oedipus from fulfilling the prophecy of killing his father, â€Å"for an act to have ethical significance, for good or bad, the person who commits it must have done so with consciousness and will. It is in these terms that Oedipus argues for his blamelessness in Oedipus at Colonus† (Trilling 4). Oedipus did not intendShow MoreRelatedOedipus Rex900 Words   |  4 PagesThe philosopher Aristotle wrote his work Poetics as a deconstruction of aesthetics approximately 50 years after the death of Sophocles, the author of Oedipus Rex. Aristotle was a great admirer of the works of Sophocles and is said to have considered Oedipus Rex to be the perfect tragedy and the basis for his thoughts in Poetics. He defines tragedy as, â€Å"an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, theRead MoreThe Three Themes of Oedipus Rex1106 Words   |  4 PagesThemes of Oedipus Rex The contrast between trust in the gods oracles and trust in intelligence and pride plays out in Oedipus Rex. Of course, the irony is, that Oedipuss and the oracles’ methods both lead to the same fallout. Oedipuss hunt for truth reveals just that, and the truth confirms the oracles prophecies. Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother. The irony is that the reader knows this from the very start of this Greek drama. There is also irony in the fact that Oedipus is theRead MoreGreek Mythology And Mythology Of The Iliad, Oedipus Rex And Others1294 Words   |  6 Pagesthey used often in their works; examples of this are seen in the Iliad, Oedipus Rex and others. The existence of Greek mythology and narratives plays a significant role in shaping the arts, most notably dance and performance. It also prompted the Aristotle Poetics that discussed the value of six specific traits in every tragedy. It has even encouraged the usage in other fields of study, the most notably t he existence of the Oedipus complex. The inclusion of different narratives, and symbolisms helpRead MoreIntrusion Is Defined As A Pushing, Thrusting, Or Forcing?1326 Words   |  6 Pagesstart conflict or end it. Oedipus for example has tons of intrusions! One of the first one’s being Oedipus himself! At the beginning of the play all the Chorus is at the foot of the palace, near the memorial for Apollo. They are all seated there, but the scene does not tell the audience why at first. Oedipus intrudes by coming out of the palace and says â€Å"My children, new-sprung race of old Cadmus, why do you sit at my shrines?† Then the Priest stands up and approaches Oedipus, and explains to him whyRead More A Comparison of Tragedy in Hamlet, The Book of Job, and Oedipus Rex1246 Words   |  5 PagesInterpretations of Tragedy in Hamlet, The Book of Job, and Oedipus Rex    For ages, man has pondered upon the roots of destiny. Is the outcome of a mans life determined by human qualities and failings, the meddling of a divine power, or simple fate? Shakespeares Hamlet made the argument that tragedy is caused by human folly. The idea that divine intervention is at the root of human suffering is put forth in the Book of Job. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex, fate is given as the root of mansRead MoreTo What Extent are ‘Othello’ and Oedipus Rex Perfect Examples of Tragedy1149 Words   |  5 Pages‘perfect’ tragedy is the idea that the tragedy is faultless; it does what is expected; so makes the audience feel empathy and sympathy for the characters who suffer. There are two different types of tragedy: classical tragedy and Shakespearean tragedy. The tragic hero in this play is the main character, Othello. Othellos misfortune comes about because of his jealousy, trust, and his pride. This essay aims to look at, and compare, how Shake speare wrote his tragedy, and how other tragedies are writtenRead MoreThe Value Of Leadership In Oedipus Rex By Sophocles1326 Words   |  6 PagesBased on evidence, Athenians valued bravery, confidence and heroic strength in their leaders. For example, the entire reason Oedipus from Oedipus Rex by Sophocles became king of Thebes is because he defeated the Sphinx that was guarding the city, saving the citizens (info from the backstory). On page 11, a senator makes the comment, â€Å"if his bosom holds a grain of fear, curses like yours he never will abide.† The reader can assume the Athenians valued bravery because the senator makes a comment againstRead More Tragedy in Oedipus Rex, Hamlet, and the Book of Job Essay examples998 Words   |  4 PagesTragedy in Oedipus Rex, Hamlet, and the Book of Job In works of literature involving a tragedy, the question of the cause of the tragedy is often raised. The play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, and the book of Job from the Bible all involve a tragedy resulting from different things. In Oedipus Rex the tragedy is a result of Oedipuss fate. In Hamlet the tragedy is caused by human folly. The divine intervention of God is what causes the tragedy in Job.Read More Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex Fulfills All of the Requirements of a Tragedy1088 Words   |  5 PagesSophocles’ Oedipus Rex Fulfills All of the Requirements of a Tragedy Throughout Poetics, Aristotle describes what traits a tragedy must have to be successful. To support these choices, he makes use of a small analysis of many tragedies, including many of Sophocles’ plays; Oedipus Rex is one of the plays mentioned in Aristotle’s Poetics. Some of these traits include a successful plot structure, recognition scenes, and a correct choice for its hero. In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles fulfills all ofRead MoreComparing Oedipus Rex And Death Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller1255 Words   |  6 Pagesa. Tragedy†¦ we all will go through this at least once in our lifetime. It is inevitable. It has been around since the beginning of time. The ancient Greek’s used it in a manner in which we still use it today in Modern times. b. Today I will be comparing the two works such as Oedipus Rex, which is a playwright written by the great Sophocles and another playwright named Death Of A Salesman written by Arthur Miller. c. Through out the years, there has been a lot of controversy on whether or not Death

Wordsworth Language vs. Experience Free Essays

Veronika Abkarian DWC 201 003 20 November 2012 William Wordsworth’s Language vs. Experience William Wordsworth, a major English Romantic poem, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature. This time period consisted of literature that had strong influences on romantic writers. We will write a custom essay sample on Wordsworth Language vs. Experience or any similar topic only for you Order Now The writers’ attitudes were different to the ordinary previous writers. Seventh and Eighteenth century writings were too difficult for the common person to understand. They were uncommon and had awkward and ornate structures. The following quote, â€Å"I have endeavored utterly to reject them [the formalized expressions of 17th and 18th century poetry] as a mechanical device of style† suggests Wordsworth’s view of the relationship between the language of his writing and the subjects, which are expressed throughout his works. He believes that language structure should not have set number of lines, rhyme schemes, or certain patterns of rhythm. Wordsworth wants to write about incidents and situations that occur in everyday life and describe them in language used by the average person, or a plain and empathic language. In Wordsworth’s belief, literature would no longer be mimetic and reflective but expressive. The readers of his works should use â€Å"gaudiness and inane phraseology†. He believes in making an emphasis of nature, not only physically but also human nature. He looks toward talking about humble and rustic life instead of focusing on royalty or the selfishness of having wealth. He believes that a language arising out of repeated experience and regular feelings is more permanent and more philosophical than that of the poets whom use fancy language to show off their writing style. The principles of Wordsworth pertain to his goal of helping readers understand complex emotional times when they have occurred. The common people are closer to finding the truth, a language closer to real true emotion and experience. Wordsworth feels as though he must address the sensations that are individual to the person at the time, but also bind us together. The relationship of the language he uses when expressing emotions and experience represent feelings in the spirit of the passions of men and are superior to fancy style writing. He is solely a poet for other men, or humanity. He believes strongly in brotherhood or a common sense of unity among humans. By writing poetry about the common people he emphasized them to be sentimentally equal, which represented his desire for equality amongst all mankind, a typical characteristic in the Romantic age of literature. Wordsworth’s language used in his poetry highlighted much about equality. He did not like to be known as better than those inferior to him. His position as a poet was solely a job to him that placed words full of emotion into the world. No matter lower or upper class, he saw the world as a whole. Hence why he wrote in the common language and to all types of people. In his preface to â€Å"Lyrical Ballads† he explains that he choses these people because they are â€Å"being less under the influence of social vanity they convey their feelings and notions in simple and unelaborated expressions. † Wordsworth states that most poets’ styles of writing are based on an overflow of feelings; although it is similar for him it is quite different. He believes poetry should be a spontaneous overflow of emotion and that our thoughts are representations of our past feelings. When we reflect on these, we can discover what is truely important to men. One of Wordsworth’s main objectives that is incorporated into his language is aspiring to the ideals of the French Revolution- Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. The emotion must be reflected in tranquility and looked at from a distance, analyzed with intellect and reason as well as felt with passion. The ultimate goal is to help us understand complex emotions which when they occurred were too much for us to articulate. As mentioned above, his poetry carries on themes of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity led Wordsworth and other romantics to romantic claims of nature and imagination. Wordsworth wrote about people, moments, and settings that represent freedom. In Cumberland Beggar, Wordsworth focuses on social classes being blend together. He writes about a beggar, a man of regular stature in society, and how he lives within nature. The beggar is very humble, and the people around him are very generous to him. The beggar is bent over and looks at the ground, this symbolizes a sort of uprising of emotion to the reader. As the beggar meets people he tends to enhance and bring out the goodness of people, which represents moments of humanity. A scene in this poem is when the boy is riding his bike and they share a sense of gentleness. Seeing the man softens the boy, and he soon realizes that he will be ancient one day. The beggar is poor but rich in experience, gentleness, and wisdom. â€Å"No–man is dear to man; the poorest poor Long for some moments in a weary life When they can know and feel that they have been, Themselves, the fathers and the dealers-out Of some small blessings; have been kind to such As needed kindness, for this single cause, That we have all of us one human heart. † Old Cumberland Beggar This represents how Wordsworth’s language exemplifies the celebration of equality and freedom, stating that even the lowest among us have so much to offer. He states that even the poorest man give blessings. The most important message from this quote in his poem is â€Å"That we have all of us one human heart† because it clearly illustrates Wordsworth’s passion of equality and how poetry should erase boundaries between genders, classes, generations, and supremely, between human beings and the natural world. Wordsworth believes that spending time in nature is a gift. This is from past experiences of his time spent in nature. In his future he keeps this in mind while he is alone, tired, and frustrated in a busy city. The beauty of his past experiences of nature will help him overcome his obstacles he is faced with in the future. When the beggar dies he is reunified in nature. Although he is alone, he is resting in peace on the green grassy field. Wordsworth’s use of the words raven, ostrich, clouds, sea-horse, and torrents in his poem, The Wandering Jew are examples of imagination and nature. In Tintern Abbey, the poet visits a church that he attended five years prior. In the poem he measures the differences, which in turn promotes universal thoughts. One who reads this poem is most likely to experience an emotional response to memories. Wordsworth is enjoying the memories but at the same time dealing with a sense of loss. As this is happening, the reader is deeply inside of their selves, trying to figure out the emotions of what they have gained/lost. Wordsworth is sad because it is obvious that he cannot get the time or memories back. As a whole, we have all experienced this, which binds us all together and makes us equal. Wordsworth is recognized to be one of the most influential poets due to his poetry standing so apart from that of his ancestors. Romantics will celebrate the subject the individual, each has an imagination but each ones’ imagination leads us to different visions. There is emphasis on spiritual awareness, which is accessible to everyone. Our emotions serve as loss and sadness from an earlier stage in our life. Wordsworth’s views on his language and subject matter helped structure the face of modern-day poetry. How to cite Wordsworth Language vs. Experience, Essays

Do Antiterrorism Measure Threaten Civil Liberties Essay Example For Students

Do Antiterrorism Measure Threaten Civil Liberties? Essay 6 April 2002DO ANTITERRORISM MEASURES THREATEN CIVIL LIBERTIESAntiterrorism measures are implemented to prevent a terrorist from being able to carry out an operation. There have been acts of terrorism throughout history and prior to the 1990s the average American citizen found comfort in knowing that at least in his or her own backyard there was a blanket of safety. Since the attack of the World Trade Center in 1993 and the Murrah Federal Building in 1995 there has been a growing threat of terrorism in America. The threat was also manifested in the 9/11 attack on America at the World Trade Center. Antiterrorism measures have been employed to stop or at least obstruct further attacks, and some complain that their rights as American citizens are being violated. Antiterrorism is not threatening civil liberties as long as the American people understand why these steps are being taken. After the 9/11 bombing, the lines at airports were known to take between two and four hours just to get baggage checked, yet there were no complaints. The media coverage of the measures that were being taken in order to protect the American travelers were enough reason to support such prolonged delays in airport lobbies. Other types of antiterrorism measures that were enacted after the World Trade Center attack in 1993 and the Murrah building bombing in 1995 were to increase the usage of wiretaps on suspected terrorists, military involvement in chemical and biological weapons, stopping contributions to international terrorist organizations, and facilitating the government to deny entry to the United States and implementing deportation policies against suspected terrorists (Bender, 126). These policies of antiterrorism have no threat to any American citizen that is not associated to a terrorist organization, but it does affect those citizens that are suspected terrorist or supporters of a terrorist organization. After the 9/11 World Trade Center attack occurred, the government was cursed for not preventing the attack and actually questioned as to why stronger laws were not already put into practice. The problem with the antiterrorism actions is that it takes a grotesque event to gain the attention of the American people in order for the government to enact policies, with the support of American citizens, which should already have been put in place. In my opinion the antiterrorism measures do not threaten civil liberties. This may be in part due to my being educated about why these measures have been employed. The rest of the American public deserves the right to know why the government is taking such measures, and after they have such knowledge; they are more apt to support the measures. WORKS CITEDBender, David. CURRENT CONTROVERSIES: URBAN TERRORISM. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 1996. Words/ Pages : 464 / 24

Will We Still Love IKEA

Introduction IKEA is a Swedish company that was started by a seventeen-year-old boy in 1943. This company specializes in the manufacture of home and office furniture. The company has experienced consistent growth, and is currently considered the world’s largest manufacturer and retailer of furniture.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Will We Still Love IKEA? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A number of challenges in the local market have faced this company, but it has managed to counter these challenges successfully. IKEA has expanded beyond its local market in Sweden. This firm has established a very strong market in the United States and the entire Europe. The firm is the largest retailer of furniture in the United States. Although some firms have offered it stiff competition in the American market, it remains the leading manufacturer and retailer of home and office furniture. This firm is also one of the major employers in the United States and in the world. The firm has a large plant in Virginia. The locals were happy with the fact that the firm opened a branch in this city. This was a sign that there would be an increased source of employment to the locals. The entry of this firm into this city also meant that the locals would be able to purchase the products at reduced prices. This was a reason good enough to warrant a celebration. The firm met the expectations of the locals. It offered job opportunities to the locals and the prices of the furniture in this region generally dropped. The society benefited because of the incentives that this firm offered the society as part of its corporate social responsibility. The firm was fast becoming a darling to the Americans. However, not all was well after all. The Case The employees protested against the strategy adopted by the management. This resentment spiraled in March 2011 when employees went public about the discriminatory policies that the leadership of the firm employed in Virginia.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The labor laws in the United States clearly states that employees should be given opportunity to choose whether they would like to work overtime. In this firm, the choice is not in the hands the employees, but instead it is the responsibility of the management. The management dictates whether an employee would work overtime or not. It becomes worse when employees are just informed of the overtime when they have just prepared to leave their offices. This has demoralized employees of this firm because they feel that they do not have the freedom to choose when to work overtime. The management has also been accused of careless because it does not respect the wishes of employees. Moreover, the management is accused of frustrating employees in various ways. The management of the firm has been kee n on crashing unions of the employees in its facility in Virginia. Employees do not have a voice in the firm. They are expected to act as per the wish of the management. Any disagreement with company rules leads to serious consequences on the part of employees. The treatment given to employees sharply contradicts that given to employees in Sweden, which is the home to this firm. There is clear evidence that this firm has double standards when it comes to treatment of its employees. Although it took some time to realize this, it is now clear that this firm has a high regard towards some employees and not others. For instance, Anderson (2011, p. 88) observes that IKEA is one of the best employers in Sweden. Employees of this firm are allowed to have up to three fully paid leaves per year. This is not the case in the United States. In Sweden, and a few other European nations, employees have the capacity to choose when to have overtime. This is not the case in the United States. It is a lso intriguing that this firm has been racially discriminative in some of its operative activities.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Will We Still Love IKEA? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This has raised many controversies given the fact that the founder of this firm was associated with the Nazi movement in his youth. It is a reminder that this firm is as discriminatory as the action of the founder during the Nazi terror. The firm has also been accused of discriminating women. In various firms in Virginia, women are always treated with concern, especially those who have young children. This may include releasing them early enough to be with their young children. This is not the case at IKEA. The remuneration given by this firm to its American employees is below per when compared to other regions, especially the home market in Sweden. This firm faces other controversies in its operations in this country, as wel l as other countries around the world. This is what raises the main question whether the firm will still be loved as before when these evils had not been revealed. Will the society still cherish the firm after all the revelations about its discriminatory policies? Strategic Analysis of the Case The case given above shows that IKEA has a huge responsibility of changing the perception of the society. The perception of the society is very important for a strong brand such as IKEA. In order to develop an understanding between the internal and external environment, the following SWOT analysis would be very important. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is one of the important tools that are very popular in analyzing a company. It helps in analyzing firms based on the existing internal and external factors. SWOT analysis would be very valuable in analyzing IKEA. In order to bring more understanding of the firm in this competitive market, a SWOT analysis would be appropriate. It would help bring m ore insight to the opportunities and threats that this firm would face in the external environment. It would also help in understanding the strengths and weaknesses that the firm has.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strength of this firm that would translate to increased profitability is a positive image in the market due to its environmental friendly projects. The world is increasingly becoming sensitive of the impact of various business units on the environment. The concern is emanating from the fact that it has been confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt that various multinational companies are polluting the environment at a very dangerous rate (Coveney Highfiel 1995, p. 67). Various environmental conservation projects are expected to give this company a different image in the market. This company will be seen as a firm that is smarter in its environmental strategy. The market will be convinced that this company is not just interested in making profits, but also turning the society into a better place. The firm will easily attract additional customers who are determined to make a positive difference in their society. This is because they will view the firm as one that helps in conserving the environment. They will consider the purchase of the firm’s product as part of environmental conservation. Because of this, the firm will develop a strong base of loyal customers. This firm may also take this advantage to reach out to the international markets. The project would give this company a moral right to claim that it is a champion of a clean environment in the entire world. The firm has a team of dedicated and qualified staff who are able to front all the interest of the firm both in the local and regional markets (DeAnne, Gary, Hyde, Tipping 2004, p. 43). This team also supervises capital that is assigned to it in order to realize the best outcome for the organization. Despite the above strengths, this firm has some weakness. The first weakness that this firm has is the discontent customers in some region such as the United States. The fact that some of the employees are not satisfied with the way they are managed makes it very difficult for this firm to increase i ts profitability in these markets. The initiative of managing the environment is very challenging financially. It would cost this firm, large sum of money if it would sustain such projects over the years it expects to operate in this market (Daft 2009, p. 21). The members of this firm expect to work in collaboration with other firms in order to clean the environment. The team may not have the capacity to rid the environment of all the electronic wastes, unless it is supported by other agencies within the local society. The local government must be convinced to participate in such projects actively. Other environmental agencies would also be invited to take part in the elimination of such wastes as plastic materials. The fact such the projects would involve partnership with other firms; success of the entire process may be jeopardized. Success would be pegged on how determined the other partners are in fulfilling their duties. The firm has a number of opportunities in the external en vironment. In the local market in Sweden and other European countries, this firm has managed to build a large base of loyal customers. The governments of Sweden and other European countries have strongly appreciated the move of this firm to help improve the environment of these countries, a fact that has earned it a large base of customers. The Swedish government, and other governments where this firm operates, has maintained a very stable political environment. This means that the business environment is free from any political unrest that may disrupt normal business operations within the market. This has created a business environment that is very peaceful to various firms in the country. The firm also enjoys an economic growth in this region that has increased the purchasing power of the consumers. This increased purchasing power has helped the firm to increase its operations to regions beyond its borders. The emerging technologies have also helped IKEA in its operational strateg ies. The firm has adopted the emerging technologies in its operations, a fact that has helped it increase its efficiency (Kratschmer 2011, p. 101). This firm faces a number of threats in its operations. Threats may not be predictable in this industry, though the firm may try to reduce the possibility of occurrence. The first threat that this firm faces is price wars in the market. The local firms may notice the strategy of the firm to charge lesser prices for its products, especially to those consumers who have shown resolve to combat environmental degradation. There is a possibility that the competitors may consider this move as a strategy that this firm uses to charge cheap prices for their products. The impact of this is that the competitors may respond by equally lowering their prices in the market. Such price wars are always dangerous to the prosperity of a business. The initiative may fail to make any serious sense. However, this threat has been minimized by introducing other responsibilities for the project, and the invitation of the whole society to participate. IKEA stores also face the threat from the emerging technologies. The emerging technologies are beneficial to the firm. However, they can pose serious challenge to the firm if it fails to select the appropriate technology to apply. Applying a wrong technology may cause serious negative consequences to the firm. Late application of the emerging technologies may also render such a firm less competitive in the market. Revisiting the Case IKEA is still considered the market leader in this industry. It is the largest manufacturer and retailer of home and office furniture. The case presented above shows that this firm has been successful in the world market. However, it is yet to address some pertinent issues affecting it. The firm is accused of high handedness when dealing with the employees. The complaint from employees shows that there is some form of dissatisfaction on the side of employees. The f irm has failed to incorporate employees into partners other than employees of this firm (Fayol 1949, p. 127). This discontent among the employees means that the employees will not be willing to give their best to the firm. They feel that they are not part of the organization. The second accusation leveled against this firm is that the management is discriminative in its operations. Women have complained that the management does not take care of their interests. This accusation may have negative effect on this firm. It should manage this discontent in order to be successful in this industry. It should find a way of making all its employees feel part of the organization. Conclusion and Recommendations IKEA has managed to withstand the market competition that has forced various other firms out of the market. The firm has been operating in a very competitive market within Sweden, the United States and other countries where other firms have similar products. The management of this firm h as come to realize that the best way to beat the market competition is come up with strategies that can help it become unique in the market. The management has embraced the spirit of competition in the market. It has also come to realize that employees are very important in the determination of success for the firm. They are the wheel through which a firm can be able to move from one level to the next. However, the firm can improve its efficiency if it considers the following recommendations. The management should embrace the emerging trends in the market. It should use the emerging technologies such as social media marketing to reach out for the customers. The management should increase the number of young innovative employees who can help the firm manage the emerging technologies. The management should increase its corporate social responsibility, especially on environment, to improve its public image. The firm should consider increasing its partnership with suppliers to ensure t hat they constantly have the stock. The management should ensure that employees are constantly motivated in their various duties in the firm. The management should address all the needs of the employees to the best of its capacity. It should address all the complaints that are put forth by the employees of this firm. List of References Anderson, M 2011, Bottom-Line Organization Development: Implementing and Evaluating Strategic Change for Lasting Value, Elsevier, Burlington. Coveney, P Highfield, 1995, Frontiers of Complexity: The Search for Order in a Chaotic World, Fawcett Columbine, New York. Daft, R 2009, Organization Theory and Design, Cengage Learning, New York. DeAnne, A, Gary, N, Hyde, P, Tipping, A 2004, Ten Guiding Principles of Change Management, Booz Company, New York. Fayol, H. (1949). General and Industrial Management. London: Pitman. Kratschmer, P 2011, Organizational Culture is Highly Resistant to Change: Discuss, GRIN Verlag, New York. Norton, M, Mochon, D Ariel y, D 2011, â€Å"The IKEA Effect: When Labor Leads to Love†, Harvard Business School, Vol. 1, no. 4, pp 11-91. Palich, LE, Cardinal, LB, Miller, CC 2000, â€Å"Curve-linearity in the diversification-performance linkage: An examination of over three decades of research.† Strategic Management Journal, Vol. 21, no. 2, pp 155-174. Snider, J, Hill, RP, Martin, D 2003, â€Å"Corporate social responsibility in the 21st century: A view from the world’s most successful firms.† Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 175–187. This essay on Will We Still Love IKEA? was written and submitted by user Hayley T. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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